Wednesday, 30 March 2011

Where has Hanan Ashrawi been all these years?

Now it has emerged that Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi served on the advisory board of the 2001 commission that originally founded Responsibility to Protect.

Hmm, I remember her. Ashrawi was the first Arabic name I learned to spell (in English), after Arafat. Luckily, my archives go waaaay back.

.... September brought the first anniversary of 9/11 and Hanan Ashrawi came to Boulder. I wrote objections to everyone I could think of, including university regents, but Boulder was adrift in protestations of "academic freedom" and "free speech." The local newspaper published ten anti-Israel letters in as many days. Mine was apparently too bitter to merit publication:

"With regard to the generous support shown by Boulderites in the [Daily] Camera for the speaking engagement of Hanan Ashrawi, I would like to thank the larger community for its sensitivity toward us Jews in this difficult time. I am deeply moved that a representative of Yasir Arafat's terrorist regime will be welcomed here, not only by the general public but by the venerable institution of Colorado University, where only last spring I was able to see anti-Semitic graffiti . . ."

And I've got an extensive collection of photos as well, including this keeper:

Comments

What a grim imposture. Hanan Ashwari was always a master -- or mistress -- of the con. In her innumerable appearances on TV, she invariably defended Palestinian triggermen, cutthroats, and baby killers by mouthing the language of "humanitarianism." To hear her tell it, these terrorists -- every last one of them -- were simply Muslim versions of Francis of Assisi. So it only makes sense that this apologist for genocide would attempt to further her image by pretending -- back in 2001 -- she was concerned about the victims of genocide. The picture of her glued in Arafat's embrace says it all: Birds -- and ghouls -- of a feather stick together.

And where has she been last week? Friday's public schedule for William Burns (number three person in the State Department) showed a meeting with the Chinese ambassador at 10 a.m., a meeting at the White House at 11 a.m., and a meeting at 3 p.m.: “Under Secretary Burns meets with Dr. Hanan Ashrawi of the Palestinian Initiative for Global Dialogue and Democracy.” http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/appt/2011/03/159123.htm